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This video shows a couple of very simple router tips to help you with the accuracy and consistency of your router projects.
Hardwood Floors is a must-read magazine for the wood-flooring professional. Hardwood Floors delivers the latest in the wood-flooring industry, from installation trends and techniques to managing your business. Stay on the cutting edge and subscribe today.
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Contemporary Stone & Tile Design promotes the benefits of natural stone and ceramic tile to a readership of architects, interior designers, specifiers and consumers.
Every quarter, our pages feature a wealth of architectural photography depicting stone in a variety of applications -- from residential kitchens and bathrooms to major commercial projects. Practical tips and commentary on stone and tile design are included, featuring interviews with architects and designers from the world's leading firms.
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Don walks you through how to light the exterior of your home, and why you should do it.
Drywall expert Myron Ferguson covers material sizes, measuring, and installation sequence.
Heating just the parts of the house you're using can save a bundle. Don shows you numerous tricks to keep your rooms warm and your bills low.
The shower was once the bathroom’s most unassuming area, solely offering functionality while the jetted tub had all the fun. Times have changed however, and this once modest necessity has emerged as one of today’s hottest bathroom luxuries with new options offering the same sense of relaxation and awe that was previously reserved for the bathtub.
For frazzled homeowners seeking an escape from the stresses of the outside world, the master bath provides an ideal place to soothe away the day’s chaos. Unfortunately, time constraints can make self-pampering a rare indulgence. Given that, luxury showers have grown in popularity, offering homeowners a daily sense of relaxation that can be enjoyed in a time-efficient manner.
“The tranquil streams, invigorating pulses and calming massages offered by customized showering systems have transformed the once lackluster shower into a sensory journey,” says Jeff Pratt, vice president of sales for Danze, a manufacturer of decorative plumbing products. As demand has increased, the technology has been upgraded, with the ability to customize any combination of showerheads, sprays and massage jets to create the same relaxing getaway once exclusive to tubs.
“While the bathtub will have a place in many homes, showers have emerged as a ‘must have’ in the bathroom,” says Pratt. “Besides offering a convenient way to unwind, they’re also relatively easy to upgrade, either by replacing an old showerhead or by tapping into existing plumbing to add a second showerhead or body sprays.”
In fact, according to Pratt, many homeowners are surprised to realize just how easy and cost-effective upgrading their shower can be. Here are a few tips on how to upgrade your existing shower:
* Add a high-performance showerhead. Many can be installed by most any Do-It-Yourselfer and can easily replace that old one. If you are unsatisfied with your showerhead’s position, offset shower arms, or shower arm extensions can be used to adjust it to your desired angle.
* Select a showerhead that offers multiple functions to accommodate any mood.
* When selecting a shower system, find components that maximize your water pressure level such as the new 300 and 400 Series showerheads from Danze.
* Find shower products that match the styling and finish of your bath faucets and accessories to complete the room’s look.
If you’re a homeowner who’s considering an entire shower makeover or bathroom remodel, choosing an integrated shower system with multiple components may be the way to go. Combining multiple showerheads, handheld sprayers and body sprays into one customized unit can result in the ultimate shower get-away. Want that feeling, but don’t know where to start? Here are some ways to jumpstart and simplify the process:
* Determine the Project’s Scale - Do you want a simple update to your shower, or an entire bathroom makeover? Determining the scale of your project ahead of time will help guide your decisions on which customized showering options are right for you.
* Know Your Options - With such a dramatic rise in popularity, showering options have expanded to include choices you may never have dreamt of. New technology incorporating lighting, steam, jets, even aromatherapy, has expanded the realm of possibility. Researching ahead of time helps to make an educated purchasing decision.
* Don’t Sacrifice Style - If your preference is a traditional style, don’t settle for ultramodern shower accessories. Many manufacturers, such as Danze, offer shower components in a range of sizes, styles and finishes, allowing homeowners to get state-of-the-art function without compromising personal taste.
For more information on customized shower systems, including the Danze 300 and 400 Series showerheads, visit www.danze.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Candles make great decorations and provide good mood lighting, but cleaning up dried wax drippings is never fun. Check out these simple tips for removing candle wax and it'll be history in no time.
Want to increase the value of your property? Update your bathroom. This strategic remodel invariably turns out to be money well spent.
Financial considerations aside, spending time in a pretty, cheerful bathroom can lift your spirits every day. And, if you’ve done most of the work yourself, a sense of accomplishment will add to your pleasure. The process is actually less expensive and easier than you might expect.
Start with the largest object in the room -- the bathtub. Replacing it is not a quick fix, but a big, expensive undertaking because it involves plumbers, tilers, flooring contractors and more. But a new look can be achieved with just a facelift. Find a specialist in bathtub and sink re-glazing; your fixtures will look brand new, and while the process can be accomplished speedily, the results are long lasting.
New shower heads and faucets can make a big difference, both aesthetically and functionally. A rainfall showerhead can give you the feeling of being in a spa every time you shower. Faucets can be replaced at minimum cost from one of the many home improvement stores or online. If you can turn off the source of water coming into the house, you can install them yourself. Or, this may be the time to call a trusted plumber.
The fastest, most cost-effective decorating trick available is a big-impact shower curtain. Color is the key, but extra touches can work wonders. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, Art Institute of New York City interior design instructor Mary Saleeby recommends finding just the right contemporary or traditional touches in a trimming store and sewing them on yourself.
“Adding ‘jewelry,’ which is what I call the trim, can enhance the look at a minimum price. Use beads, fringes, or tassels; since all curtains should have a plastic liner, just about any fabric or trim can be used. For a really coordinated look, buy two shower curtains and make one into a window treatment,” she suggests.
Another transformation can come from a new wardrobe of towels, purchased inexpensively at sales or discount stores. Towels too can be trimmed to your taste -- appliqués, lace or anything washable. However, if your current towels are faded and have worn a bit thin, just seeing thick, thirsty new ones hanging on the rack waiting to enfold you will impart a feeling of luxury.
Coordinate all your colors and styles. “The more you repeat themes, the more you achieve a designer look,” says Mary Saleeby. “Repetition is a trick of the interior design trade. Trim on the shower curtain could be repeated on a window shade or on towels. Don’t forget waste paper baskets that can carry your theme to another dimension in accessorizing the room.”
Lighting is crucial in setting the mood of any space. New lighting fixtures can be very inexpensive, with no rewiring needed to create a noticeable cosmetic change. Visit home improvement stores, then compare prices online where you may find real bargains.
Dimmer switches can be used to brighten the bathroom for cosmetic application, or be turned down for mood setting. Lower the lights in the bathroom, light some candles, play music in the background, and look around at all you’ve accomplished; you’ll have a spa experience, enriched by the warm glow of personal achievement.
To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com reviews the AirFlow Breeze Vent from AirFlow Technology. The AirFlow Breeze vent is a great home improvement device for maintaining a comfortable room temperature.
The AirFlow Breeze Vent is available at Amazon.com.
This sofa/sleeper is a great addition to the den, family room, or home office that gets pressed into service as a guest room. Or build it as the first piece of the living room set, adding the matching pieces.
Note: Our sofa/sleeper uses a standard futon mattress.
To provide you with a clear picture of what you'll receive when you purchase one of our shop-built downloadable plans, we've provided a brief summary of all the elements that this electronic plan includes:
1. Professional color photography of the finished product taken after we've finished building the project ourselves in the WOOD magazine shop. You can even zoom in on the screen to see those little details.
2. For a clear idea of how our projects go together, we provide an exploded-view drawing with helpful details. All drawings are done professionally by our own staff off woodworkers/illustrators.
3. Large color photos and step-by-step instructions show exactly how we built the project in the WOOD magazine shop. We build each project ourselves to work out any bugs before you ever get the plan.
4. Detail drawings and step-by-step illustrations provide necessary dimensions and machining processes you'll need to make the building process as straightforward as possible.
5. For error free construction, each plan includes a bill of materials; a cutting diagram; a detailed supplies listing; and, when necessary, a mail-order buying guide for hard-to-find hardware.
6. Parts-view drawings are used to dimension individual pieces to guarantee your building success.
Available for download at Amazon.com.
Like a scene from a Hollywood movie, winter winds rage through town, whipping up leaves, smacking shutters against siding and sending shingles flying. Huge trees snap like feeble twigs. It’s no mystery why scary movies often portray ominous scenes against a backdrop of a dark and stormy night. It’s even more frightening in real life.
The roof over your head is your home's critical shield of protection from high winds and rain, and it’s often the first to be damaged during a windy storm. But with a few simple modifications and defensive strategies, homeowners can prepare their most valuable asset to stand up against even the harshest elements.
Start with the roof, a home’s first line of defense in protection from wind.
During a storm, wind hits the top of the roof and then travels down the exterior walls to the foundation. If the roof components can’t withstand the wind’s force, damage can occur all the way to the foundation. Quality roofing products can help prevent the heartache of thousands of dollars worth of damage.
According to Bert Elliott of Owens Corning, “Investing in a premium, wind-resistant shingle can help minimize the damage you could face in a high-wind event -- so that during the next windy day you can relax and know that your roof is ready for the challenge.”
Owens Corning Duration Series Shingles feature a patented sealant called Tru-Bond that creates a tight grip between the nailing strip and the shingle to insure a powerful bond that can help withstand winds from 110 mph up to 130 mph.
With solid shingles in place, now look to the rest of the house to make sure it’s secure. For example, anchoring bolts with heavy-gauge square bolt washers to connect the floor construction to the foundation is a small task that helps ensure added coverage. It is also important to ensure that metal connectors on roof trusses or rafters and walls are connected properly.
And don’t overlook the garage. Securing garage doors with the correct bracing --single-wide garage doors with a horizontal brace and for garage door panels, either vertical or horizontal bracing -- provides much needed protection for your garage.
Outside your home, survey the landscaping. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes recommends examining trees within close proximity to the house. If trees are diseased or damaged they may have a weak root system and may not be able to withstand a windstorm. Some warning signs include mushrooms growing at the base of the tree, indicating decay, insect infestation, large cracks in the trunk or branches and dead limbs.
Consider the distance from the tree to the house, even with healthy trees. A tree’s proximity to the home should be greater than the height of the full-grown tree.
Wind speeds fluctuate and often change directions during a storm, so make sure you are not enabling more damage to occur during the next high wind event. Loose items near the home such as lawn furniture, trash cans and other outdoor objects can wreak havoc, and pose a huge risk of injury, so put them away before a windstorm hits.
There’s another bonus to preparing your home for high winter winds. While some wind-retrofit projects are not visible, cleaning up landscaping and installing quality roofing products can help provide protection for your home while adding to its curb appeal.
“Protecting your home doesn’t mean you will have to sacrifice appearance,” says Elliott. “Updating the roof can have a tremendous impact on the overall look of your home, while providing superior protection against wind.”
A little forethought and a few modifications can help you keep those raging, wind-whipped scenes where they belong: in the movies.
Visit www.owenscorning.com for more information.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows how to install Stair Tread Pads on a staircase.
Hopefully you don’t notice it, but it can be found in everyone’s kitchen and bathroom. Problems and headaches for homeowners arise when it does become noticeable. Unsightly or missing caulk around the bathroom shower, tub, kitchen sink or countertop not only looks bad, but the real problems arise after years of water damage and neglect.
For homeowners with an active family and busy household, there isn’t really a “good” time to think about resealing tubs, showers, sinks and countertops. Traditional sealants require at least 24 hours to dry before water exposure, leaving bathrooms and kitchens unusable for at least that long and creating problems for the 53 percent of American homes with one or one and a half bathrooms.
Because most homeowners do not have the luxury of waiting 24 hours before using their tubs, showers, sinks and counters, they simply overlook this simple and inexpensive home maintenance project. Unfortunately, this can turn a small maintenance task into a major repair project.
The good news is, new technology such as Polyseamseal EST Speed Seal can cut the drying time significantly. The new fast-dry silicone system creates a durable, flexible and watertight seal that will withstand water contact only two hours after application, allowing you to shower in two hours, which is 12 times faster than traditional sealants.
The primary reason to recaulk is to create a watertight seal. Caulk is the sealant between a fixture and the wall that keeps water from penetrating behind the fixture and, in time, causing water damage or mold. Because bathroom and kitchen fixtures are used daily, the caulking between the fixture and the wall or countertop can crack or pull loose from constant water contact.
Caulking in the bathroom or kitchen is not only a necessary periodic home maintenance task, but it also needs to be done properly to prevent leakage or mold. When there is room for the water to seep into the opening, it damages the joint and the surrounding wall or underlayment. You may have seen stains on the ceiling under an upstairs bathroom – bad caulking, which allowed for water leakage behind the fixture, is one of the major causes of this issue.
Visually inspect, at least twice a month, the edge around the tub, shower door frame, shower handles/spigots, stall base, floor joint, toilet and sink – water most often enters through these vulnerable locations. If any of the caulking around these areas is cracked, shrunken, missing or moldy, it’s time to recaulk. Additionally, any holes or openings in shower walls should be attended to with caulk immediately.
Another reason to recaulk is to give an old tub, shower, sink or other fixture a fresh look. This is an inexpensive project that can give your bathroom or kitchen a major facelift. Old or severely discolored caulking should be completely removed and the area properly cleaned and dried before new caulk is applied. By caulking over soap scum, mold or mildew, discolorations can bleed through the caulk and, in time, the caulk will peel away from the surface.
Knowing how, when and why to recaulk can help busy homeowners quickly and easily update the seal around bathroom and kitchen fixtures. The key is to keep a well-maintained, clean and tight seal around water-prone areas to prevent big repair bills down the road.
For more information on caulking the kitchen and bathroom, or for product information, visit www.polyseamseal.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Don shows you how to perfom some simple fixes to common problems that you might have with some of the cabinets around your house.
When giving someone a tour of your home, do you conveniently skip over the bathroom? Does it look better with the lights off and door closed? If your bathroom is outdated, it might be time for a makeover. Small changes can make a big improvement, and even if you have a small budget, there are many ways to make your bathroom shine.
“Updating a bathroom benefits the home’s overall appearance and is something the homeowners can enjoy every day,” says Dan Auer of Faucet.com, a Web site with a vast inventory which includes all the fixtures and accessories needed for bathroom remodels. “Simple updates can have a big impact and can be done in a small amount of time.”
Easy bathroom updates include:
1) The Faucet
The faucet is the focal point of the entire bathroom and should be one of the main considerations when remodeling. If yours looks like it’s from a bygone era, it’s time to consider something new. Fashion and functionality are now available with many styles and finishes to choose from.
You might also consider replacing the sink to really freshen up the look. Pedestal bathroom sinks and countertop sinks are easy to replace and can make an immediate improvement.
2) Bathroom Accessories
Updating the hardware and other bathroom accessories can be a fast and affordable way to give the room an instant facelift. Towel rings, vanity shelves and even drawer handles can all make or date a room. New accessories come in variety of finishes, including chrome, brushed nickel and bronze.
Looking to add some bath accessories but not sure where to start? Try a towel ring by the sink for a hand towel so guests don't reach for your bath towels. Sink a little cluttered? A vanity shelf adds stylish extra space; some models even have towel bars built-in. A towel warmer is a great addition to any bathroom and surprisingly affordable. The luxury of a toasty warm towel right outside the shower can't be beat. These small items, in matching finishes, can add up to one great change to your bathroom's look and function.
3) Lighting
New light fixtures can update the look of your bathroom as well as ensure safety while in the bathroom. Remember, because you use this room for your daily preparations, you want to have adequate lighting. Choose an overhead light and/or light above the mirror for ease and convenience. Choose from two, three or four bulb fixtures to adequately light the mirror area. Consider adding side sconces and adjustable lighting, so in the mornings you can turn the lights up to get ready and in the evenings, turn them down for a softer illumination during a relaxing hot bath or shower.
4) Showerhead
When updating your bathroom, add something you can enjoy every day. New showerheads come with a variety of options. They can be handheld, adjustable or even massaging. A new showerhead will prove to be a rewarding update to your daily routine. Many people find a custom shower system is a luxurious way to update their bathroom. Try a two-wall diverter system that sprays in several areas for the feeling of a spa shower at home.
5) Paint
The walls of bathrooms get abused with steam, hairspray, perfume and many other items that are involved in a family’s routines throughout the day. A fresh coat of paint will add a new, clean element that will update any room. Integrate fun colors into the bathroom by trying a new shade of paint, or stenciling in details to fit the overall room theme. When buying paint, consider having the paint store stir in a non-mildew additive because of the extra humidity associated with this room.
The best place to start your bathroom makeover is to look at Web sites like Faucet.com. The site offers many ideas and lots of style and finish options. Plus, shopping online can save you money and customer service is easily available for any questions so you are guided as you make your decisions.
“These five steps can be done in a short time for DIYers or within one day for a professional contractor, meaning you can enjoy the updates almost instantly,” adds Auer. “The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house. Easy updates will make sure it’s more enjoyable for both you and your guests.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Myron Ferguson addresses styles and techniques to avoid problems in fastening drywall.
Are you ready to get a jump start on discovering 2008’s hottest decorating and paint color trends? Winter is an ideal time to start planning your interior decorating spruce ups. And one of the easiest, least expensive ways to give a room a new look and feel is with paint.
“The 2008 color forecast contains some extraordinarily vibrant, yet versatile, hues that have been inspired by everyday life,” says Donna Schroeder of Dutch Boy Paints. “The depth and range of this year’s most popular colors provide extensive options for adding accents to a room, changing themes and styles, or even completely redecorating from scratch.”
All of the colors in this year’s forecast can be found in the Trend Palette within Dutch Boy’s innovative Color Simplicity System. The five modern and stylish color themes found in the 2008 Trend Palette are as follows:
Culinary
Have you ever strolled past a bakery mesmerized by the brightly colored pastries adorned with intricate details? Food can have an emotional connection for many people, stimulating the senses, including sight. So, why not bring some of these culinary inspirations into your home decor with the Culinary palette?
Colors in the Culinary palette include: A La Carte, Gazpacho, Pink Chenna, Worn Avocado, Dining Alfresco, Phyllo, Sous Chef and Chopping Block.
Travel
Think distant lands and exotic destinations. The Travel palette takes its cue from faraway locales and memories of times past. Bring your own journeys home by displaying your travel treasures against richly colored walls.
Colors in the Travel palette include the following: African Sunset, Elephant Watch, Victoria Falls, Slouch Hat, Soukous, Cheetah Spots, Kwaito and Open Savannah.
Fashion
Whether it’s a favorite blouse, scarf or dress, find inspiration in your own fashionable favorites and dress your home in color. This year’s Fashion palette was influenced by saturated Art Nouveau colors and graphic Deco patterns.
Colors in the Fashion palette include the following: Roaring 20s, Gazette Gold, Champagne Punch, Nouveau Riche, Deco Detail, Floral Applique, Jade Brooch and Paris Metro Station.
Nature
The beauty and wonder that come from the natural world can be a great place to derive inspiration. By using colors and textures from the great outdoors, you can create your own scenic landscape in the comfort of your own living room.
Colors in the Nature palette include the following: Leafy Glimmer, Brown Noddy, Red Clover Blossom, Dark Forest, Hen House, Haven White, Purple Loosestrife and Patina Verdigris.
Art
Do you have a favorite piece of artwork? If you’re someone who appreciates the classics like Monet or Renoir, focus on adding more “lifelike” colors to the home -- like blues and neutrals. For a more contemporary look, embrace more unique, energetic colors for an abstract experience.
Colors in the Art palette include the following: Minimalist Cream, Picasso’s Blue Period, Skandi, Bartel Blue, Blue Tape, Impressionist Blue and Canvas Sky.
For more information about how to choose the perfect color, please visit www.dutchboy.com or call (800) 828-5669.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Don goes over a technique that you can use to properly clean your wood cabinets.
Marble countertops look beautiful in any style kitchen or bathroom. To help you make the most of your money, AsktheDecorator.com host Meghan Carter visits Vermont Marble Museum to discover how to select the right marble countertops for you and how to protect them for staining.
Cutting crown molding doesn't have to be confusing and frustrating. CROWN-CUT is the safest and easiest way to cut crown molding, and you will cut perfect miters every time. What's the secret? CROWN-CUT holds the molding at the crown's intended angle, and locks it in place while you cut it. Before CROWN-CUT the common way to cut molding was to lay it flat and use a compound cut. Not only was this difficult, computing the two angles was nearly impossible. In contrast, CROWN-CUT requires only simple 45 degree miter cuts that any miter saw can handle. CROWN-CUT fits crown and cove molding up to 6 inches wide and fits all 10 and larger miter saws. CROWN-CUT is completely portable and requires no attachment to your miter saw.
Available at Amazon.com.
Bob Scmidt gives advice about painting products and procedures to make your painting project go smore smoothly.
Do some of your light fixtures look like they are fugitives from another era, and are certain rooms in your home better looking with the lights off? If so, it’s time to do something about it.
Small changes with regards to lighting can make a dramatic improvement in the look and feel of your home, and they don’t cost much to do. Here are some ideas from the experts at LightingShowplace.com -- a company that over the past 13 years has helped more than one million customers with their projects -- on how to dress up your home in an instant, starting at the front door.
Front Door
When you drive up to your home at night, what do you see? If the answer is “not much,” then you should replace your front entry light with a lamp that gives off more light. A well lit front entrance says ‘Welcome,’ while at the same time enabling you to greet guests and identify visitors. Not only will updating your lighting improve the look of your home from the street, it will enhance your sense of security because the front door will be better lit.
If you have a single lantern next to the door, consider replacing it with matching wall lanterns to give the home a warm look, while assuring the safety of those who enter. For homes with a porch or overhang, you have even more options: a recessed, chain-hung or ceiling fixture.
The Dining Room
Want to dress up your dining room without spending a small fortune on new furniture? Simply painting those plain white walls and switching out the chandelier hanging over the table will make a dramatic difference.
Not sure what color to go with? Here’s a guideline from the National Kitchen and Bath Association on what some of the most popular colors can do:
Soft yellows can be cheering and make individuals feel sunny. Bright yellow can be used as an accent that attracts attention and helps to brighten a room.
Green is the ultimate pacifier. Often associated with nature, it is both relaxing and reassuring. Pale yellow-greens conjure images of growth while deep greens are associated with status and wealth.
Blue arouses feelings of freshness, coolness and relaxation. In lighter hues, blue is airy and open, while dark blues represent wealth, strength and respect, evoking the feelings of reassurance in individuals.
Red attracts attention, causes excitement, and even raises blood pressure. Intense red is stimulating; however, it can also be distracting in large amounts. Red is associated with wealth and sophistication, while high value reds (pinks) can make people feel good about the way they look.
Once you choose a paint color, move on to the task of replacing your plain, boring fixture with one that gives the room more of a “wow” factor. For a look of opulence, you may want to go with a crystal chandelier. For a more contemporary look, consider a fixture that features softened and rounded lines. If you’re going for a modern look, you’ll want something with polished surfaces, strong geometric shapes and asymmetry, while the rustic look reflects the visual patterns found in nature.
Adding a floor lamp in the corner of the room that fits the same theme will help you really dress up the room. It will make those extra chairs resting near the wall a more inviting place to hang out while people are waiting for the meal to be ready.
The Bathroom
And if your bathroom still looks like it’s circa 1970 with dark paint and globe lights around the mirror, choose a lighter paint color and swap out the fixtures for a bold new look.
An ideally lit bathroom will have a fixture above the mirror with usually two, three, four or more bulbs. This fixture will provide overhead and top of the features lighting. The next type of fixture you will need to achieve a well lit bathroom are scones. One sconce on either side of the mirror will help avoid shadows and fill in the rest of your face and neck properly. Most bathrooms will require additional flush mount ceiling lighting in the toilet area or center of the room to fill the entire room properly with light.
When it’s time to start shopping for fixtures, you don’t need to spend a lot of time running from lighting store to lighting store. To get an idea of the latest looks available, just log on to www.lightingshowplace.com, and you’ll have access to an online catalog with hundreds of fixtures to choose from. You can shop by brand, collection of style and once you find a look you like, the site makes it easy for you to pair up matching pieces.
According to Daniel Auer of LightingShowplace.com, customers come to his online store for three key reasons. “They come to us because they know they can find quality merchandise at a good price, that they can expect the products to be delivered quickly, and that they’ll have all their questions answered either in the informational articles on our Web site, or on the phone when they talk to one of our customer service representatives.”
Auer adds that unlike box stores which typically hire people who aren’t familiar with all the brands and products they sell, his customer service personnel can answer any question the customer has, and they will offer a quick response via e-mail or phone.
Whether you’re ready to shop for your lighting needs today, or just looking for ideas that will jump start your project, log on to http://www.lightingshowplace.com/.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Deep pores preventing you from getting that high-gloss sheen? Bob Wilson's got the solution: the filled-pore finish.
What winter traveler can resist the attraction of a small cabin deep in snow-swept woods at dusk, lit and warmed by a crackling fire and framed by two overstuffed chairs and a tray of snacks on the hearth? Indeed, a welcome sight on any blustery evening. This could be the site of a well-stocked bird feeder to the feathered visitors of our wintry backyards.
Winter provides a unique opportunity to attract various wildlife to your yard while lending the chance to be a small but integral contributor to the local food cycle.
The winter view from your home does not need to be bleak. As you move indoors for the season, the time is right to either place or reposition backyard or porch bird feeders within an easy sight line of windows to provide comfortable inside viewing of birding activity. Providing more than one type of feeder at differing heights will invite a greater variety of birds. For example, a raised feeder, five to 15 feet above the ground, will attract evening grosbeaks and finches, while feeders closer to the ground tend to draw doves and sparrows.
Whatever the season, however, always remember to consider the ever-present competition from the local squirrel population for the food you put out. Descending chain feeders are a more ready squirrel deterrent than poled platform feeders. Regardless of the feeder you use, you can often retro-fit a variety of squirrel guards to your feeder to tilt the food competition toward your small flying friends.
Once you have positioned your feeders for easy viewing from the inside, then comes the all-important enticement of food. Not unlike us, different foods attract different types of birds. And higher quality foods lend even more reason for feathered visitors to make your feeders part of their daily stops.
When considering what type of foods to put out, try to stay away from common generic mixes. Lower-priced mixes are often not a bargain, as they contain various fillers, like red milo, which almost all birds discard. Buying higher-quality seed mixes or individual seeds that end up being a complete food to birds are the best value. Sunflowers are a universally popular choice. They attract cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Black sunflowers are a particular treat for birds, as the oilier shell is easier to crack and they are also usually cheaper than the traditional gray and white striped sunflowers we most often recognize.
The use of safflower seed will further differentiate your visitors as this small white seed attracts chickadees, downy woodpeckers, cardinals and titmice, while repelling grackles, blue jays and starlings who often keep smaller birds away from feeders. Another excellent individual seed is niger or thistle. While this seed is a bit more expensive, it provides a high-energy meal full of oil and calories. Thistle is often the meal of choice for finches, one of the most colorful of birds to observe. If you don’t want to mess with putting out individual seeds, the best option is to simply buy a good premium blend of wild bird seed. Premium blends contain quality ingredients and are an appealing food source.
“Providing high-energy bird food is more critical in the winter, when natural food supplies are not as accessible, and no food is better suited to high-energy winter feeding than quality suet,” says Tony Vahedian, vice president of ScottsMiracleGro’s wild bird food division. Suet is a high-fat food that is readily affordable in various size cakes and easily inserted in matching wire-mesh feeders to keep larger tree animals out. Scotts Songbird Selections suet, available in February 2008, is an example of a new high-quality suet bird food. You can be sure to see colorful woodpeckers and blue jays visiting your suet feeders.
Finally, if you like to attend to your feeders daily, remember to sprinkle affordable white millet along the ground and you’ll be sure to spot snacking mourning doves, sparrows and juncos.
Winter doesn’t have to be a dreary, bleak landscape outside our windows. This year, provide some winter entertainment by making your yard like that little cabin in the woods -- an enticing stopover spot for the nourishment of our feathered backyard friends.
For more information on bird feeding, visit www.scotts.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Finally, an easy, safe way to lift and carry plywood, drywall and other cumbersome sheet goods. The Gorilla Gripper is a gripping hand tool designed for lifting, carrying and moving a variety of building materials that are large, unwieldy and heavy. The Gorilla Gripper simply slips over the center of the top edge of the panel. When you lift, it grips using the weight of the material to add super strength to your grip. You'll lift the panel with suprising ease. The Gorilla Gripper significantly reduces the stress and potential of injuries to fingers, hands, wrists, and back
Gorilla Gripper is available at Amazon.com.
AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter demonstrates how to install a kitchen faucet. Putting in your own kitchen faucet isn't as hard as you think. This video walks you through hooking up the waterlines and a veggie sprayer.
Need a joint that adds both form and function to your drop-leaf table? Then you need a rule joint. Master Craftsman Chuck Hedlund shows you how to make one.
VideoJug: How To Save Energy In Your Home
Learn simple ways to conserve energy used in your home and save money while doing it.
Whether you’re tucking in your outdoor garden before frigid temperatures hit or counting on your indoor plants to satisfy your need for green this winter, you’ll need to do a bit of work to keep your leafy friends happy and healthy until spring.
Winter is generally a harsh time for plants -- indoors and out, but gardening experts say there are simple ways to bundle up outdoor plants and healthy ways to care for indoor plants so they’ll grow and bloom again for years to come.
Indoor Plants
* Don’t fertilize or feed the plant unless they are growing vigorously or flowering.
* Reduce your watering schedule and let the soil dry out between waterings.
* Move plants into sunny areas during the day and away from cold drafts at night. Instead of lugging pots from room to room, or if pots are too heavy to be moved, invest in a few Down Under Plant Caddies. The wheeled devices come in several sizes, hold and easily move up to 500 lbs. and lock to keep the caddie securely in place.
* Keep indoor temperatures as even as possible. Winter air is dry air and plants need humidity. Grouping plants together can help increase humidity as can placing pots on a tray of damp gravel or misting the leaves regularly.
Outdoor Plants
* If plants are outdoors, in the ground, give them a layer of compost for food and add several layers of mulch to provide insulation and protection against the cold. Great options for mulch include shredded leaves, grass clippings, wood chips or newspaper.
* In areas of the country that fall below freezing, don’t leave your stoneware pots outside for the winter, the soil in them can freeze and even empty pots can break. Pots do not provide insulation and, if left outside, the plants inside of them will likely die.
* In warmer areas of the country that only have cool winters, make sure your plant pots are elevated off the surface they rest on, like a deck or concrete patio. Moisture can become trapped under the containers and damage and stain the surface. Using a Down Under Plant Stand lifts the pot and allows air to circulate under it preventing this damage.
* If you live in a part of the country in which the ground does not freeze, you can plant perennials in the soil where they can be left to bloom when it’s warm or re-potted next year. Plant the roots deep and water once per week until the first frost.
* You can also leave the plants in their pots and move it to a cool, dark place that will stay between 40 and 50 degrees. Water once when you put them away then they’ll go dormant. Leave them until the spring when they’re ready to bask in the sun again.
For more information about the Down Under Plant Stand or Down Under Plant Caddie or to purchase, visit www.DownUnderPlantStand.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
